Using Technology to Tailor the Future

For many young men and women living in low income countries, lack of education and employment opportunities are pervasive. By teaching young men and women how to use computerised sewing machines - in conjunction with business management and online marketing - we can generate a new generation of business owners.

Our solution is to teach students to use digital textile design/embroidery machines, in conjunction with skills in business development and marketing via social media.   

By teaching young men and women how to design and create their own clothing and motifs, we can create textiles on a larger scale and on-sell to domestic markets and internationally.  

Students would learn how to use this technology as part of a three month vocational course at the Caritas Centre. By using computers, online e-business and digital technology,  students will learn about computer-based design development, giving them the ability to come up with creative designs for on-sell. 

Once graduated, students will have the ability to access small loans to create their own tailoring or textile business. Through their learning, they will also have access to online book-keeping and basic accounting software, which can be downloaded via App. 

Computerised clothing design are great tool for livelihood as it makes the production of goods more effective and can lead to increased profit for young business owners. 

Nias is one of the poorest regions in Indonesia, with a pervasive lack of access to educational facilities. Many young men and women work as tailors to generate income. As the world becomes increasingly industrialised,  manual embroidery machines are becoming obsolete and are rapidly replaced by computerised embroidery machines. It is vital that youth learn to operate this technology so that they can continue to generate income and compete globally. 

Education through facilities such at the Caritas Centre increases participant’s status, primarily because education equips young men and women with knowledge and bargaining power.

Since 2008, over 600 students have graduated from the Caritas Centre. Of these over 50% went on to be employed in local business, with 12% securing loans to start their own projects. 

Our beneficiaries will be disenfranchised youth on Nias, who have not been able to access education or technology and are ill-equipped to find work or act as economic agents.

Through three months of vocational training, youth will learn skills such as digital embroidery and design, as well as book keeping and social media marketing. With this new knowledge, many young people will have the skills to harness their creativity and ideas, and use Facebook as a tool for promotion and income generation.

Digital machines are installed Caritas Partners with digital e-learning partner to provide module in e-business and bookkeeping - Original sewing course is revised to include digital machines and online resources

Staff undergo month long trial period where they test new resources and create new logframes and KPIs for courses - Caritas staff are taught revised course content and ensure courses are relevant and adaptable to local contexts

40 student contracts signed - 40 students enrol for the course

90% of Indonesians who have internet are Facebook users. Many however, do not know how to use the internet and social media to learn and create business.  

By having access to technology such as digital embroidery machines and e-business, students will learn intensive design development and how to use social media for marketing and product promotion. Those living rurally can also use social media to advertise their textiles on both domestic and international scale. 

Cartias Sibolga is committed to sustainable development and empowering individuals and communities living in poverty. The organization believes that education is a key factor in empowerment, especially for women and disabled persons. 

Our offering needs to expand in conjunction with technology, as we more towards a more digitised workplace of the 21st century. We continue to develop our programmes, to ensure our teaching has an impact and  technology is incorporated into our offering. 

Having worked in the local community on development projects for over ten years, Caritas has a wide network on Nias. 

Youth will be selected to participate in the program based on ability and need. Some will be partially subsidised whilst those who cannot afford to will be fully subsidised. 

The vocational education facility is currently in the town of Gunungsitoli. This is restrictive for students who live rurally. We hope to expand these training facilities to both North and South Nias in upcoming years, as well as integrate mobile-based learning for students.  

Caritas Sibolga is currently transitioning to a Social Enterprise. We have various income generating activities that have started to generate profit in for the organisation;

CARITAS WATER

Caritas Water is a CKS owned water filtering and bottling plant, which has been in operation since 2011. The plant sells fresh and sanitised water (for domestic and retail use) to the local community, with all profits going back into running CKS programs and operational expenses.

CARITAS MARKET

Caritas Market has been in operation since April 2013. It consists of two supermarkets, a cafe,  a bookshop and a futsal stadium.

17% of all revenue generated from sales at these outlets are reinvested in CKS.

If Caritas is successful in securing embroidery machines, we could also look to sell these and other textiles to fundraise. 

Lack of access to technology and expertise. Lack of infrastructure - internet connection is bad, power cuts, Nias is very isolated so do not have access to new knowledge and ideas. 

In many cases, parents remove children from from school early, as they do not see the value of education. To many families, children are viewed as extra hands to work on the farm and assist with family duties. Dowries are still pervasive on Nias so many young girls are married early. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUT6ko_8AhQ

Having worked in the community for many years, we have formed solid relationships and have a good understanding of development practise in the context on Nias Island, North Sumatra.

What we lack are the skills to implement and best use technology in our offering to the community. As we are so isolated with lack of expertise, working with Solve would help us to understand what there is available to us as we expand our important vocational educational facilities.  

Caritas Italy

Caritas Bolzano

Carita Austria

Australian Volunteers International

Caritas Indonesia - Karina

n/a - there are very few aid agencies providing relief or vocational training on Nias Island.